A Medical Doctor and Research Immunologist, Dr. Justice Kofi Boakye-Appiah, has expressed deep concern over the widespread impact of illegal mining widely known as galamsey in Ghana.

According to him, the devastating consequences affect everyone, adding that most often lives of people are not thought about when engaging in the canker.

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He added that the menace would eventually lead to the deaths of people citing a publication by Forensic Pathologist, Prof Paul Poku Sampene Ossei on abnormal birth due to the heavy metals used for the galamsey.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, October 5, he stressed the need for a shift in priorities, urging Ghanaians to recognise that human lives are more valuable than short-term gains from illegal activities like galamsey.

"It comes down to one simple thing – in Ghana, we do not value lives. We think everything is just politics and about money. We do not think about the consequences of everything we do, so if this will make me rich, I do not care about the consequences,” he said.

Read also: Impose ban on small-scale mining in Ghana – Health workers to Akufo-Addo

Again, he criticised the mindset of those who believe the issue is only a problem for certain groups, calling it "strange."